Debates by Jacob Brower

75¢ SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

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HU GROUPS FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING SPORTS COMPLEX THEFTS PROMPT ACTION Two campus organizations at Harding University are teaming up to fight human trafficking. — PAGE 3A

Parents can expect to see an increase in police presence at the Searcy Sports Complex this weekend. — PAGE 1B

Lincoln, Haynie to debate Debate will be held April 9 at Riverview The Daily Citizen

White County Judge Michael Lincoln and his challenger, Bill Haynie, will debate next month at Riverview High School.

County-wide meeting ■

Discussed Act 833 fund-

ing

The debate will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 9. Winston Collier, White County Election Commission chairman, will moderate the 90-minute forum, which is being sponsored by The Daily Citizen. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.

County judge debate When: 7 p.m. on Monday, April 9 Where: Riverview High School Admission: Free and open to the public

Please see DEBATE | 2A Lincoln

Haynie

STUDENTS MAKE ST. PATRICK’S DAY CRAFTS

■ Decided to keep distribution with 2000 numbers ■ Source of year 2000 numbers is unknown

No change to fire department funding Beebe mayor disgruntled with meeting procedure BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

When it comes to the distribution of the Act 833 funds for the fire departments, the growth or decline of a fire district’s population will not factor into the funds each fire district receives in White County. The intergovernmental council of White County has voted against using the 2010 Census results as the scale for how each fire district is given its portion of the funds. The funds are collected from insurance coverage on real and Please see FUNDING | 2A

Crawford: Surtax vote would break pledge Democrats continue effort to strike Smith from ballot Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Second grade students at Westside Elementary read “Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato” and then rewrote the story in their own words on a potato man Friday to get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit. Michelle Bruxvoort’s student Emily Horton cuts out parts of her potato man, while Landon Wyatt and Alexis Schroyer work on their assignments as well.

BY ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Democratic Party said Friday it will move forward with a lawsuit claiming former lawmaker Fred Smith is ineligible to run for his

old seat because of a felony theft conviction, despite a judge’s order effectively clearing the exHarlem Globetrotter’s criminal record. Party spokeswoman Candace Martin said that the party won’t

drop its lawsuit seeking to block Smith from the Democratic primary ballot for an east Arkansas House seat. Martin said the party still believes Smith was ineligible when he filed on March 1. “What we’ve maintained from

the beginning of this was at the time Mr. Smith filed, he was ineligible to run because he was convicted and we believe that is still the relevant fact in this

Associated Press

spiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Prosecutors estimate that Jackson’s sentence will range from nearly six to more than seven years in prison. A sentencing date hasn’t been set. Before U.S. District Judge James Moody accepted Jackson’s plea on Friday, he pointed out that Jackson was in a position of public trust as a sheriff’s deputy. “You won’t be able to work in

WEATHER Today: Partly sunny. Rain likely. Highs around 80. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Rain likely. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Vol. 158, No. 66 ©2012 The Daily Citizen

law enforcement ever again,” Moody said. Jackson is one of five law enforcement officers — out of 71 people — indicted in an investigation dubbed “Operation Delta Blues.” The probe, announced in October, focused on corruption and drug trafficking in the Mississippi Delta town of HelenaWest Helena. Jackson’s plea comes after former Helena-West Helena police officers Robert “Bam Bam” Rog-

Associated Press

ers and Herman Eaton and former Marvell police officer Robert Wahls entered guilty pleas earlier this year. Prosecutors recommended a 16-month prison sentence for Rogers and Eaton and a 2-year sentence for Wahls. Another law enforcement officer who was indicted in the investigation has a trial scheduled next month. Prosecutor Julie Peters laid

LITTLE ROCK — Republican Congressman Rick Crawford said Friday that voting for his proposal to raise taxes on millionaires would violate an anti-tax pledge he signed, but that his party must be willing to support hikes in exchange for longterm deficit reductions. Facing criticism from fellow conservatives over his tax increase proposal that’s tied to a balanced budget amendment, the freshman lawmaker from Arkansas defended the plan and said that other members of his party need be more willing to compromise on tax issues. “I know it’s a fundamental tenet of Republicans not to raise taxes, but in the world we’re living right now with the budget situation being what it is, I think

Please see OFFICER | 2A

Please see CRAWFORD | 2A

Please see SMITH | 2A

Law enforcement officer pleads guilty to drug-related charge LITTLE ROCK — The fourth of five Arkansas law enforcement officers accused of accepting bribes and looking the other way while traffickers shipped drugs throughout the region pleaded guilty Friday to a drug-related charge. Federal prosecutors in Little Rock agreed to drop two other charges against former Phillips County Sheriff’s Deputy Winston Dean Jackson in exchange for his guilty plea to one count of con-

BY ANDREW DEMILLO

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

Endure the present, and watch for better things. VIRGIL Ancient Roman poet

”

Page 2A • Saturday, March 17, 2012

The Daily Citizen

FROM PAGE ONE News in Brief

DEBATE: Candidates welcome the chance to share plans, ideas

Associated Press CONTINUED FROM 1A

Lincoln said he is looking forward to the opportunity to talk about his time as judge and his plans going forward. “I look forward to reminding the voters of what we have accomplished in my three terms,” he said. “I don’t make promises, but I hope to outline a plan for continuing to meet the needs of the citizens on White County.” Haynie said he also welcomes the opportunity to debate Lincoln. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I look forward to letting the people know

where I stand and what I want to do.” Jacob Brower, editor of The Daily Citizen, said he is pleased that the newspaper is sponsoring the debate. “These are two very plain-spoken candidates who have different visions for how to move our county forward,” he said. “We are always looking for ways to inform citizens about issues that matter to them, and we welcome this as another opportunity to do so.” Lincoln and Haynie will face off in the May 22 Republican primary. The victor will not face a general election opponent.

Inmate commits suicide in Washington County jail FAYETTEVILLE — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says a 39-year-old inmate accused of rape has died by hanging himself in his cell. The agency said Friday that William Scott Spurgeon died Thursday night after he fashioned a noose out of his clothing and hanged himself from a bed rail. Spurgeon, who was in a cell by himself, was being held on charges of rape and second-degree sexual assault. He’d also been served divorce papers earlier Thursday. An internal investigation is under way and Spurgeon’s body was sent to the Arkansas Crime Lab for autopsy.

Teen dies after 100-foot fall

SMITH: Prosecutors argue former legislator’s eligibility to scrap record CONTINUED FROM 1A

case,” Martin said. Chicot County Judge Sam Pope on Wednesday dismissed the felony theft case against Smith. The judge ruled that Smith complied with the conditions of his sentence when he was found guilty last year of theft of property delivered by mistake. Smith was charged after an audit found that a school district issued a duplicate payment of $29,250 to a nonprofit group run by Smith and that both payments were cashed. He resigned from his House seat the day he was found guilty. Prosecutors have argued that Smith wasn’t eligible to have his conviction expunged because he pleaded not guilty in the case, but Pope wrote that state law gives him the authority to dismiss the case. Thomas Deen, the prosecutor, said he was still reviewing the order and was considering whether to appeal Pope’s decision to the state Su-

preme Court. Deen said Pope relied on a prison sentencing reform law that was approved last year, after Smith was found guilty in the case. “There is some question as to whether it applies to (Smith) since at the time of his trial this statute was not in effect,” Deen said. State Sen. David Burnett, an attorney who is representing Smith, said the judge’s order this week shows that the ex-lawmaker is eligible to run and serve again. Burnett maintains that Smith wasn’t a felon because the judge didn’t enter an order of conviction. “(Smith) complied with the terms of the diversion and the suspended sentence,” Burnett said. The Democratic Party filed the lawsuit against Smith, Secretary of State Mark Martin, and the Crittenden and Cross county election commissions after the secretary of state’s office rejected its request to block Smith’s candidacy.

“What we’ve maintained from the beginning of this was at the time Mr. Smith filed, he was ineligible to run because he was convicted and we believe that is still the relevant fact in this case.” Candace Martin Spokeswoman, Arkansas Democratic Party

WINSLOW — Authorities say a 15-year-old boy has died after falling 100 feet from a railroad trestle. Fayetteville television station KHOG reports that authorities be-

lieve the boy was trespassing with five other juveniles when he slipped and fell around 1 a.m. Friday The trestle reaches heights between 100 and 125 feet and spans a valley east of Interstate 540 near Winslow. Washington County emergency officials say first responders had a tough time reaching the remote location and several agencies helped in the rescue effort. The boy later died from the injuries. Arkansas-Missouri Railroad police Chief Ron Sparks says an investigation is ongoing. The Washington County coroner says the boy’s body is in Little Rock awaiting an autopsy.

Administration outlines birth control coverage options WASHINGTON — The Obama administration signaled Friday it’s willing to help insurance companies offset the cost of providing free birth control to women working at church-affiliated institutions like

hospitals and colleges. By finding a way to make the middlemen whole, the administration may be able to extricate itself from an unexpected political furor over birth control that has mobilized partisans across the political spectrum a half-century after the advent of the pill. A 32-page regulatory proposal unveiled Friday offered options for providing free birth control to women whose employers object to contraception on religious grounds. The government now classifies birth control as preventive care, and President Barack Obama’s health care law requires health plans to cover prevention at no cost to the consumer. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other institutions whose primary purpose is to propagate faith are exempt from the mandate. But when the administration sought to impose the requirement on religious nonprofits serving the public, it triggered a backlash.

FUNDING: Distribution of funds based on district population, not cities CONTINUED FROM 1A

personal property through the state department of finance and administration. The final vote of the council was seven votes against using 2010 data with five votes in favor. Four mayors on the council were absent. Letona Mayor Sherrill Bennett was one of the seven mayors in favor of continuing to use the 2000 data. “I think it should be left the same,” Bennett said. “The 2010 Census is not accurate anyway.” Bald Knob Mayor Doyle Wallace also wanted to keep the 2000 census data. “It was going to cost us a little bit of money,” Wallace said. “It was to our advantage to stay like we were.” The mayors were given a breakdown of the change between the 2000 and 2010 census data, which showed how each district had changed in the 10 years. According to the data, 19 of the fire districts decreased in size, while nine of the districts grew and two districts stayed the same. Distribution of the funds

is based on the population of the fire districts, not the individual cities. While some of the cities did grow in population, their fire districts may not reflect similar results. In addition, the figure that was believed to be the 2000 fire district population may not be as accurate at the 2010 Census data. “According to the minutes of the 2000 intergovernmental council meeting, it appeared to us that the figures that were given were from the fire chiefs as to how many people were in their districts,” said County Judge Michael Lincoln. “Inaccurate data in 2000 made the 2010 data look like some districts had really grown, while some had not grown as much.” The 2010 data distributed during the meeting was created by Tony Davis with the state’s geographic information system (GIS) office. He created the county’s Quorum Court districts, and other maps needed by the county. During the discussion of funding, Lincoln continuously asked mayors if they had an accurate figure for the number of people in their district.

Beebe Mayor Mike Robertson was in favor of using the 2010 Census data because he said according to the fire protection code handbook, which outlines the Act 833 distribution of funds, the funds should be distributed by the most recent survey information. “I think there was an incorrect interpretation of the code,” Robertson said. “I think we need to follow the code. “I don’t think a vote was even appropriate. I didn’t think there should be a vote at all. The motion itself was to distribute funds and then it failed. There should have been a second motion. I think the matter is still on the table.” Robertson said he wrote a letter to Lincoln addressing these issues on Friday. Lincoln said he disagrees with Robertson’s stance that the issue is still on the table. “The option was to leave it like it was or to change it,” Lincoln said. “The motion was to change it. If it didn’t pass to change it, then we need to leave it alone. The only reason we needed a vote then was if the vote was to change it, then the Quorum Court has to pass a resolution in

order to make it official.” Lincoln said he can understand why some people wanted the distribution to continue based on the 2000 census, while others wanted it to change to the 2010 census. “I really believe that it would have been probably fairer if we had gone with the new census numbers,” he said. “Obviously we want the money to come back to the districts from which it was produced, so if those districts have had a population growth, they should receive their share.” Lincoln said he thinks what really affected the vote on Thursday night was the lack of a financial breakdown the population difference would cost each district. “There wasn’t a really clear understanding of how much of the money the population change meant,” Lincoln said. “If one town was going to only lose $100, but another town would gain $1,000, sure the mayor of the other town would agree that the 2010 census data is better. “Without those financial figures, it was just a guess of what the districts would lose.”

CRAWFORD: Proposal would levy a 5 percent surtax on individual incomes exceeding $1 million CONTINUED FROM 1A

Republicans have to take their head out of the sand and say ‘you know what? We’re on course to have to increase revenue,’” Crawford told The Associated Press. “And if we do that, it better be worth something, and we better make sure we’re getting a permanent reform out of it.” Crawford acknowledged that he’d violate a pledge

he made to not raise taxes if he voted for the legislation, after initially claiming Friday the legislation wouldn’t break that promise. Crawford said later that day that he hasn’t broken the pledge because he hasn’t voted for the tax hike yet. “I don’t ever want to vote for a tax increase but if we have to break that pledge, don’t you think it ought to be for something meaningful?” Crawford said. “Right now,

I haven’t broken that pledge and I hope I don’t have to, but I almost don’t really see any scenario where we’re not going to be put in that position to make that choice. That’s wishful thinking.” Crawford’s proposal, which he unveiled Thursday, would levy a 5 percent surtax on individual incomes over $1 million in exchange for congressional passage of a balanced budget amendment. If the

Corrections

OFFICER: Other charges dropped CONTINUED FROM 1A

out the basics of the case that the government would have made against Jackson had they gone to trial. She said he gave alleged drug dealers a heads up when a state trooper was coming to town with an arrest warrant last year and then took cash for the warning while he was in his sheriff’s car. She said he also made sure that a warrant against one of the alleged drug dealers disappeared before prosecution could begin. Jackson said he didn’t disagree with her account.

The Daily Citizen corrects factual errors promptly and courteously. If you have a correction or clarification, please call Editor Jacob Brower at (501) 2688621 or e-mail him at jbrower@thedailycitizen.com.

NIGHTLY 7:30 SAT & SUN MATINEE 2:00

ever come up for a vote. Norquist said voting for the surtax would violate the pledge Crawford signed for the group.

CITY OF SEARCY GENERAL FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 BALANCE GENERAL FUND, 1‐1‐2011 GENERAL FUND REVENUES: TAXES FINES AND FORFEITURES RECREATION USER FEES SERVICE & USER FEES PERMITS & FEES INTEREST EARNED SALES PROCEEDS REIMBURSEMENT REVENUES MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES DONATIONS STATE GRANTS FEDERAL GRANTS TOTAL REVENUES

$8,345,106.94 $498,125.03 $98,741.19 $3,045,253.23 $282,586.48 $17,411.74 $1,187,291.41 $256,749.96 $71,666.09 $11,425.63 $918,974.29 $635,371.57 $15,368,703.56

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, ALL DEPARTMENTS EXCEPT STREET: PERSONNEL BUILDING & GROUNDS VEHICLES SUPPLIES GRANT EXPENDITURES CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES MISCELLANEOUS PLANNING TOTAL EXPENDITURES LIABILITIES BALANCE GENERAL FUND, 12‐31‐2011

10,588,473.77 $940,194.65 $809,479.93 $175,278.89 $499,803.45 $0.00 $0.00 $2,195,092.90 $36,000.00 $15,244,323.59 $0.00 $654,425.89

BALANCE STREET FUND, 1‐1‐2011 STREET FUND REVENUES: TAXES & HIGHWAY TURNBACK PERMITS/FEES INTEREST EARNED MISCELLANEOUS DONATIONS TOTAL REVENUES STREET FUND EXPENDITURES: PERSONNEL BUILDING & GROUNDS VEHICLE SUPPLIES MISCELLANEOUS CONSTRUCTION TOTAL EXPENDITURES LIABILITIES BALANCE STREET FUND, 12‐31‐2011

$530,045.92

$328,087.33 $1,249,013.03 $75.00 $4,877.16 $425.00 $7,450.67 $1,261,840.86 $428,360.04 $27,131.26 $93,062.78 $389.08 $541,176.10 $30,879.69 $1,120,998.95 $0.00 $468,929.24

INDEBTEDNESS: Type of Debt Amount Date Last Payment Due Lease Purchase Agreement (Police cars) $71,350.79 7/3/2012 Short‐term Promissory Note (Fire truck) $501,663.27 9/1/2016

RIALTO THEATRE 268-6699

dent of Americans for Tax Reform, said Thursday that he didn’t view Crawford’s proposal as a serious effort and didn’t believe it would

CITY OF SEARCY STREET FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011

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ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED

amendment is ratified by the states, it would last 10 years. Otherwise, it would only last five years. Grover Norquist, presi-

All financial records for the City of Searcy are public records and are open for public inspection during regular business hours of 8AM to 4:30PM Monday through Friday, at City Hall in Searcy, Arkansas.

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If a record is in active use or in storage and, therefore, not available at the time a citizen asks to examine it, the custodian shall certify this fact in writing to the applicant and set a date and hour within three (3) days at which time the record will be available for inspection and copying.

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The Daily Citizen

Friday, March 23, 2012 • Page 3A

FROM PAGE ONE

Lawyer says outpost deal a stalling tactic BY TIA GOLDENBERG Associated Press

JERUSALEM — A deal to allow Jewish settlers to remain in their unauthorized West Bank outpost for another three years is a stalling tactic that could lead to them staying there, a lawyer told Israel’s Supreme Court Thursday. The court has ordered the Migron outpost taken down by the end of the month. Next week, the court is expected to decide whether to approve

the agreement between the government and the settlers, which would allow the settlers to remain until 2015. At that time, they would be moved to homes to be built nearby, in what the government describes as a new neighborhood of an existing settlement. Israel’s Supreme Court previously ruled that Migron was built on private Palestinian land, setting March 31 as the deadline for its dismantling.

Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Judge candidates agree to debate terms From left, White County Judge Michael Lincoln, attorney and moderator Winston Collier, judge candidate Bill Haynie and The Daily Citizen’s Editor Jacob Brower on Thursday morning negotiate terms for an upcoming county judge debate. The debate will be held on Monday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Riverview High School gymnasium. The event is open to the public, and admission is free. The debate is sponsored by The Daily Citizen.

Volunteers still needed for Habitat BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Saturday morning will be an exciting time for Jack and Cassie Carpenter. This weekend, they will get to see the walls raised on their new home. The home is being built at 409 W. Woodruff in Searcy. This is the seventh home for Habitat for Humanity of White County. Volunteers are still needed to make the home a reality. Habitat director Leigh Anne Hawthorne said anyone 16 or older is welcome to help with the build. She encouraged any interest-

Habitat Build When: Saturday at 8 a.m. Where: 409 W. Woodruff How to help: E-mail habitatwhiteco@yahoo. com or call 501-2685589 ed person to email her at habitatwhiteco@yahoo. com to get on a mailing list to find out more information about the work of the organization. Volunteers will have to fill out two permission forms at the job site before

they can begin work. Since work will begin at the site on Saturday, there will be plenty of hungry volunteers who will need to be fed at the upcoming builds. That’s where Hawthorne is hoping the community will get involved by providing lunch for the 20 to 30 workers at the site. Any organization interested in providing lunch can email Hawthorne at the address previously listed or call her at her office, 501-268-5589. She said the answering machine is checked regularly and

messages are returned. Hawthorne encouraged anyone interested in being a Habitat home recipient to apply. She said the next home will be built in Beebe; but after that home, the following home could be built in Searcy or another town in the county. She said it will depend on where the land is located. People who apply for the Beebe home do not have to be Beebe residents, but they would have to be willing to move to Beebe. For more information about being a Habitat family, people may call or email Hawthorne.

Water could become cause warfare BY MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Drought, floods and a lack of fresh water may cause significant global instability and conflict in the coming decades, as developing countries scramble to meet demand from exploding populations while dealing with the effects of climate change, U.S. intelligence agencies said in a report released Thursday. An assessment reflecting the joint judgment of federal intelligence agencies says the risk of water issues causing wars in the next 10 years is minimal even as they create tensions within and between states and threaten to disrupt national and global food markets. But beyond 2022, it says the use of water as a weapon of war or a tool of terrorism will become more likely, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The report is based on a classified National Intelligence Estimate on water security, which

was requested by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and completed last fall. It says floods, scarce and poor quality water, combined with poverty, social tension, poor leadership and weak governments will contribute to instability that could lead the failure of numerous states. Those elements “will likely increase the risk of instability and state failure, exacerbate regional tensions, and distract countries from working with the United States on important policy objectives,” said the report, which was released at a State Department event commemorating World Water Day. Clinton, who unveiled a new U.S. Water Partnership that aims to share American water management expertise with the rest of the world, called the findings “sobering.” “These threats are real and they do raise serious security concerns,” she said. The report noted that countries have in the past tried to resolve wa-

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ter issues through negotiation but said that could change as water shortages become more severe. “We judge that as water shortages become more acute beyond the next 10 years, water in shared basins will increasingly be used as leverage; the use of water as a weapon or to further terrorist objectives, also will become more likely beyond 10 years,” it said. The report predicts that upstream nations — more powerful than their downstream neighbors due to geography — will limit access to water for political reasons and that countries will regulate internal supplies to suppress separatist movements and dissident populations. At the same time, terrorists and rogue states may target or threaten to target water-related infrastructure like dams and reservoirs more fre-

quently. Even if attacks do not occur or are only partially successful, the report said “the fear of massive floods or loss of water resources would alarm the public and cause governments to take costly measures to protect the water infrastructure.” The unclassified summary of the intelligence estimate does not identify the specific countries most at risk. But it notes that the study focused on several specific rivers and water basins. Those included the Nile in Egypt, Sudan and nations further south, the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq and the greater Middle East, the Mekong in China and Southeast Asia, the Jordan that separates Israel from the Palestinian territories, the Indus and the Brahmaputra in India and South Asia as well as the Amu Darya in Central Asia.

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LIONS FACE JACKSONVILLE WEDNESDAY UNIVERSITY NO LONGER ‘SLIGHTLY ASKEW’ Searcy is looking to sweep the Red Devils on the road in a conference doubleheader. — PAGE 1B

Traffic in Searcy has resumed its normal pace after an influx of nearly 10,000 visitors at Spring Sing. — PAGE 3A

JUDGE CANDIDATES DEBATE ISSUES

Fundraiser Who: White County Children’s Safety Center What: Raised $7,000 at its fourth annual Art to Heart fundraiser When: Thursday Where: Robbins-Sanford Grand Hall

Event raises $7,000 for center Money will aid abused children in White County BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

The White County Children’s Safety Center (WCCSS) raised $7,000 at its recent Art to Heart fundraiser. Held in the Robbins-Sanford Grand Hall, the event featured hors d’oevres, a silent auction and booths with information about the safety center and about the prevalence of child abuse in White County. Local artists donated a variety of work to be sold at the Thursday event, including paintings, drawings, photos and pottery pieces. Some of the artists who donated pieces were Micah Holden, Terri Milligan, Susan Neville and Kelly VanHook. Holden, who is a member of Second Saturday Studio, donated a children’s chair she did with mixed media, saying she decided to participate because she believes in the safety cenPlease see HEART | 2A

Earle, Forrest City lose label of fiscal-distress BY ALLEN REED Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas State Board of Education took two steps forward and three steps back Monday when it increased the number of school districts in fiscal distress. The Brinkley, Hartford and Western Yell County districts were added to the list of districts that face consolidation or annexation if they do not correct fiscal problems within two years. Eleven schools hold the financially troubled designation and up to three more could be added next month. The Alpena, Bismarck and Drew Central districts were sent identification letters earlier this year, but unlike the districts added Monday, are still deciding whether to appeal the designation. “A number of the community just want to be left alone to run our schools, but as a new superintendent I look at it as a way for us to get some help and better the school district,” said Hartford Superintendent Teresa Ragsdale. Hartford, located along Arkansas’ western border, has Please see DISTRESS | 2A

Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

White County Judge Michael Lincoln (left) listens as Bill Haynie makes his opening statement during the White County Judge Debate sponsored by The Daily Citizen and hosted by Riverview HIgh School on Monday evening. Lincoln and Haynie will face each other in the Republican primary on May 22. The winner will not face a general election opponent.

More than 300 attend the event BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

County Judge Michael Lincoln and candidate Bill Haynie displayed their knowledge of the office and county government during a debate on Monday evening, sponsored by The Daily Citizen. The more than hour-long event was held at Riverview High School at 7 p.m. with more than 300 people in attendance. Searcy Election Commission Chairman Winston Collier was the moderator for the event. The rules of the debate were agreed upon by each candidate prior to the debate. Collier touched on a variety of topics concerning the office, including the question of government transparency and how it can be improved in the county. Haynie had the first opportunity to respond to the question. “The residents of White County are not getting answers about the way their tax dollars are being spent,” Haynie said. “There is no online system to show people the agenda of the Quorum

Court, the expenditures of the county, or the ordinances coming up for discussion... It’s really simple. Transparency is transparency. It’s seeing what is out there. We need

to be open about everything. You shouldn’t charge one person for something and then charge another person for something else.” During Lincoln’s response,

he reiterated that the county government is already transparent as the information Haynie, such as the ordiPlease see DEBATE | 2A

Workshop for students to be held before concert Douglas Niedt, American guitarist, will perform at Harding University Thursday as part of the University’s Classical Lyceum Series. The performance will be held in the Administration Auditorium on at 7 p.m. Niedt will hold a workshop for music students and anyone interested in the Reynolds Recital Hall at 3 p.m. prior to the performance. A native of St. Louis, Niedt began his study of the guitar at the age of seven with his father, an amateur guitarist. He later polished his playing through studies at the Juilliard School and the Segovia Mas-

WEATHER Today: Mostly sunny. Rain likely. Highs in the lower 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Northeast winds 5 mph. Vol. 158, No. 86 ©2012 The Daily Citizen

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White County Judge Michael Lincoln (left) and his opponent for the Republican primary on May 22, Bill Haynie, shake hands at the beginning of a debate held Monday night at Riverview High School.

ter Classes in Spain, and with Christopher Parkening, Narciso Yepes and Jorge Morel. He is currently the head of the guitar program of the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Niedt is best known for the wide variety of music he plays in his concerts and recordings. Along with traditional classical repertoire, Niedt often plays arrangements of music by Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Secret Garden and Tommy Emmanuel. Tickets for the performance will be $3. For more information, call the music department at (501) 279-4343.

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

Concert Who: Douglas Niedt, American guitarist What: Will perform in the Harding University Administration Auditorium When: Thursday at 7 p.m. Tickets: $3

Niedt

Joys divided are increased. J.G. HOLLAND American novelist

”

Page 2A • Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Daily Citizen

FROM PAGE ONE

Ex-lawmaker not eligible to run BY ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — Former legislator and Harlem Globetrotter Fred Smith isn’t eligible to run in the May Democratic primary for his old Arkansas House seat because of a felony theft conviction that was later cleared from his record, a judge ruled Monday. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mary McGowan ordered election officials to not count or certify any votes for Smith in the May 22 primary for his old east Arkansas seat, noting that ballots have already been printed. The state Democratic Party had sued to keep Smith off the ballot because of the conviction. Smith resigned his seat last year after he was found guilty of theft of property delivered by mistake. Smith filed to run for his seat on March 1, two weeks before a

Chicot County judge dismissed the theft case and said the ex-lawmaker complied with the conditions of his sentence. Although the ruling effectively cleared Smith’s record in the theft case, it didn’t change Smith’s eligibility because it was issued after he had filed to run for office, McGowan said. Smith was charged after an audit found that a school district issued a duplicate payment of $29,250 to a nonprofit group run by Smith. Both payments were cashed. Smith’s attorney argued in a hearing Thursday that Smith was never technically convicted since he was given a “deferred” sentence in the case. The judge agreed that Smith no longer had a felony conviction on his record, but found that Smith did have a record when he filed to run for

office. McGowan noted that the state Supreme Court has defined a conviction as “the finding of a person guilty of an offense.” The Democratic Party of Arkansas sued to block Smith’s candidacy after Secretary of State Mark Martin’s office refused to remove him from the ballot. Martin’s office argued that it would take a court order to remove Smith from the ballot. “From the onset, our No. 1 goal has been to ensure that Arkansas law has been maintained and we appreciate the ruling in today’s decision,” said Democratic Party spokeswoman Candace Martin, adding that she expected Smith to appeal the ruling. Sen. David Burnet, who represented Smith, did not immediately return a message Monday afternoon. Smith told The Associated Press said he

wanted to talk with Burnett about whether to appeal the court’s order, but said he still believes he’s eligible to run. The local prosecutor asked the attorney general’s office to appeal the Chicot County judge’s ruling that cleared Smith’s record, arguing that the judge had relied on a law that wasn’t in effect when Smith was found guilty. But the attorney general’s office decided not to pursue the appeal. “After reviewing the record, we determined that the court’s error would not support an appeal,” attorney general spokesman Aaron Sadler said, adding that the prosecutor agreed with the decision. Smith filed to run for the party’s nomination against Rep. Hudson Hallum, who won the seat in a special election after Smith resigned. No Republicans are running.

Martin death won’t go to Fla. grand jury BY MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — A grand jury will not look into the Trayvon Martin case, a special prosecutor said Monday, leaving the decision of whether to charge the teen’s shooter in her

hands alone and eliminating the possibility of a firstdegree murder charge. That prosecutor, Angela Corey, said her decision had no bearing on whether she would file charges against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch vol-

unteer who has said he shot the unarmed black teen in self-defense. Corey could still decide to charge him with a serious felony such as manslaughter, which can carry a lengthy prison sentence if he is convicted. A grand jury had been set

to meet Tuesday in Sanford, about 20 miles northeast of Orlando. Corey has long had a reputation for not using grand juries if it wasn’t necessary. In Florida, only first-degree murder cases require the use of grand juries.

DEBATE

unless appropriated by the Quorum Court. “The Justices of the Peace are the legislative body of government. They are in charge of finances,” Lincoln said. Lincoln explained that the county road budget does not have a surplus; rather it is in county general. He said the Quorum Court has already designated $1 million for the bypass, and $2 million for special projects.

“The county judge does not have control of the money,” he said. “Once it’s appropriated, then it can be used in county roads, law enforcement, or whatever project the justices deem necessary.” Haynie said he would like the surplus to be transferred to the county road budget because that is where there is a need in the county. “Those out in the county are suffering the worst,” Haynie said. “The closer you get into Searcy, the better roads are. The county’s biggest issue is roads — roads and bridges. They need to be addressed now.” Also during the debate: ■ Haynie restated that he will dismiss Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Tamara Jenkins based on the findings of a state police investigation. Haynie said he will

keep all other county personnel. Lincoln said he does not plan to dismiss any county employee if reelected. ■ Lincoln discussed the number of one-lane wooden bridges the county has made into two-lane paved bridges, along with the number of roads the county has improved with chipsealing or paving since Lincoln has taken office. Each candidate was given a five minute opening statement, and then allowed a 7-1/2-minute closing statement. Collier asked 10 questions during the night and alternated which candidate had the first opportunity to answer a question. Once the question was asked, the candidates each had two minutes to respond. The candidate who was first given the question also received a 30 second rebuttal.

ster enrollment. Hazel Burnett with the Arkansas Department of Education recommended the removals and additions. Superintendents from the Earle and Forrest City school districts celebrated coming off of the list. Forrest City Superintendent Jerry Woods raised his hands into the air after the board’s unanimous vote. The head of the eastern-Arkansas district, which at three years had been the longest-classified distressed district, called the removal a fiscal breath of fresh air. “It’s like a financial harbinger that hangs over your head. ... It kind

of makes people say, ‘I might not be as happy going to that district,’” Woods said. Forrest City reduced costs by not filling open positions and reducing employee travel costs, among other measures. The Earle district said it closed a middle school and reconfigured the district so it had two campuses: kindergarten through sixth grade and seventh through 12th grade. Earle Superintendent Rickey Nicks said approximately one-third of the district’s staff was removed to fix finances. The board also reviewed an update regarding the Helena-West

Helena school district that with the removal of Forrest City now holds the distinction of being on the fiscal-distress list the longest. State officials announced the closure of three of the districts five campuses and the elimination of 30 positions for an estimated $1.4 million savings for its 2012-2013 budget.

CONTINUED FROM 1A

Debate

nances, county budget and Quorum Court agenda are available at the county clerk’s office. “We have line items for every expenditure in the county,” Lincoln said. “Not one penny can be spent unless its properly appropriated by the Justices of the Peace. No elected official in the county can spend any money unless properly appropriated by the Quorum Court. Any time any citizen wants any information, they can just go to the county clerk’s office and ask to see a copy of a transaction.” Collier also asked about the surplus in the county budget, concerning how the money should be spent. Lincoln was able to respond first to the question. Lincoln said the surplus money cannot be spent

County judge Michael Lincoln and candidate Bill Haynie participated in a debate on Monday evening, hosted by The Daily Citizen at Riverview High School. Topics of the debate included government transparency and the county budget surplus, among other topics.

DISTRESS CONTINUED FROM 1A

struggled with declining enrolment followed by diminishing funding, Ragsdale said. According to the state, the district’s net legal balance declined from $532,544 in the 2009-2010 fiscal year to $346,745 in 2010-2011. Brinkley and Western Yell County face similar problems of diminishing dollars. The fiscal-distress designation did not come as a surprise, Ragsdale said. To right the district’s finances, Ragsdale said she’ll examine instituting fees for free day care and after-school programs that were created to bol-

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News in Brief Associated Press

Police office burns after break-in, theft RISON — Authorities are looking for a thief and an arsonist who broke into the Rison Police Department and set it on fire after taking several items. Cleveland County sheriff’s Dept. Capt. Gary Young says the fire was reported by a newspaper carrier at about 3 a.m. Monday. Young says the police department side of Rison City Hall sustained severe structural damage and that the city administration side suffered smoke damage. Young says police records were destroyed but that shouldn’t interfere with any prosecutions. He says prosecutors have their own copies of the records. Detectives say security cameras at nearby businesses are being checked but that the investigation is just getting under way. Rison is about 25 miles south of Pine Bluff and has about 1,300 residents.

Prosecutor clears detective in shooting FAYETTEVILLE — The Washington County prosecutor says a detective was justified when he fatally shot a man in Farmington last month. Prosecutor John Threet says Detective L. Scott McAfee was justified in the shooting of 38-year-old Joshua Thomas. Fayetteville television station KHBS reports that Threet says McAfee did not break any laws in the shooting. Sheriff Tim Helder says detectives were following up on an investigation involving a reported sexual assault on a minor. The sheriff says Thomas opened the door and swung a crowbar at McAfee. The sheriff says McAfee fired once, fatally wounding Thomas.

HEART CONTINUED FROM 1A

ter’s cause. According to Robin Connell, executive director of the safety center, approximately 125 people attended the event. One hundred and eighty balloons filled the room to symbolize the number of children WCCSC helped last year, Connell said. So far this year, the center has assisted 62 children. Although the number of people in attendance was comparable to that of past years, Connell said, the amount of money raised was substantially less. “We normally raise $10,000 to $15,000,” she said. “I try to attribute [the lower amount] to people having so many different charities to give to. People are spread kind of thin.” Connell said the nonprofit organization receives most of its funding through donations, which go toward staff salaries, overhead costs and other operating costs. The White County Children’s Safety Center is a non-profit advocacy organization that provides support for children who have been allegedly physically or sexually abused. The primary opera-

Corrections The Daily Citizen corrects factual errors promptly and courteously. If you have a correction or clarification, please call Editor Jacob Brower at (501) 2688621 or e-mail him at jbrower@thedailycitizen.com.

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tion of the center is to conduct forensic interviews in which children tell their stories to a specialized interviewer in a child-friendly environment instead of having to be interviewed in a police station. The center also has a medical examination program for allegedly abused children. In addition to directly assisting parents and families, the WCCSC partners with community agencies to promote education, awareness and prevention programs through school-based programs, community events and fundraisers. The center is open 24 hours a day and serves children ages 3 to 17. Services, including medical exams, are free of charge. Referrals to the center can be made only by local law enforcement, DHS or Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division. For more information, people may call (501) 388-1636, visit www. whitecountycsc.com or send email to whitecounty_csc@yahoo. com. Those who wish to make a donation to the White County Children’s Safety Center may send mail to P.O. Box 2142, Searcy, AR 72145.

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Page 2A • Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Daily Citizen

FROM PAGE ONE

Chairmen: Romney, Obama to skip state BY ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — The chairmen of Arkansas’ Democratic and Republican parties said Wednesday they don’t expect President Barack Obama or Mitt Romney, the allbut-certain GOP nominee, to campaign in the state before the November election. But the party heads disagreed over how much the presidential race will affect the fight over control of the state Legislature and other matchups this fall. State Democratic Party Chairman Will Bond told reporters that he’s been told by the Obama campaign to not expect the president to campaign in Arkansas, a state that he lost by 20 percentage points in the election four years ago. Polls have shown that Obama re-

mains very unpopular in the state. Meanwhile, state GOP Chairman Doyle Webb said it’s unlikely that Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, will stump in Arkansas. “We’re not a targeted state because of that margin, so at this point I don’t expect him to come into this state,” Webb told reporters. Bond and Webb had an informal debate before the Political Animals Club, which holds regular forums with political figures in the state. They squared off Wednesday over which party has the edge as Democrats and Republicans prepare for an election that will determine who controls the Legislature, which is currently majority-Democrat. All 135 House and Senate seats are up in November because of redis-

tricting, and Republicans have made gains in recent years in the historically Democratic state. “You won’t be able to choose purple in this election,” Webb said. “I think we’re in a historic time of realignment of the political parties in this state.” Bond accused Republicans in the state of drifting further to the right, and said Democrats have proven their ability to lead the state during the economic downturn. “The facts support continuing the responsible leadership of Arkansas Democrats,” he said. Obama has not visited the state since 2006, but his campaign opened an office in North Little Rock last month. Bond said he didn’t view the president’s low approval as a liability in state races. “Obviously, if he had 75 percent approval in

Arkansas, then we would be in better shape, but we don’t think it’s going to affect our state elections significantly because of the record of Arkansas Democrats,” said Bond, who noted that Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe won every one of the state’s 75 counties in the 2010 election. Webb, however, said he believes Obama’s lack of popularity in the state will hurt Democrats in legislative races. He criticized Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, a Democrat, for not joining lawsuits challenging Obama’s health care law. “I don’t know that Republicans nationalized this state election as much as the Democrats did by failing to represent the overwhelming feeling of the majority of the state of Arkansas,” Webb said.

a community center. All of the clubs from the high school have said that they are willing to donate money and help with the center. Rowe said that at first she thought that the students were just going to talk about building a community center and that it would just end there, but that the students are serious about helping. The late Tom Sooter and Jack Bridger were added to the honor plaque at city hall for their services and dedication to the

city of Pangburn. Sooter spent most of his 93 years in Pangburn and worked for the school and also worked as a bus driver for the district. “He could take anything and make something out of it,” said Shirley Ramsey, city clerk. “ He was really gifted.” Bridger was mayor at one point, but Ramsey said she wasn’t sure how for how long he served. He also helped build the baseball fields after seeing that the kids didn’t have somewhere to play.

In other business, the council is accepting bids to repave Moss, Pine, and Skillern streets and the intersections of Church and Main. City officials are also going to replace the culverts at Maple and Torrence and County 10 road. The next regular monthly meeting of the council will be 7:30 p.m. on April 17. The council meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday at the Butch Pearce Pangburn Municipal Building, 508 W. Main St.

PANGBURN CONTINUED FROM 1A

about underage drinking and someone from Harding University will talk to the students about overthe-counter medications. Students at Pangburn High School want to help out the city by raising money for a community center and possibly having a health fair. Students from Sandy Rowe’s art class told the city council Tuesday that they have already been researching funds and possible property to build

LOTTERY

Beebe also said the conflict might require an opinion from the Arkansas attorney general’s office. However, attorney general spokesman Aaron Sadler said Wednesday afternoon that no requests regarding the lottery have been made. “I think I’ve done everything I can do,” Engstrom said after the vote. “I’m going to try and rely on the governor and people much smarter with a whole lot more horsepower than I’ve got to see what can happen.” Lottery Director Bishop Woosley maintains Hyde’s assessment of the contract is inaccurate. Woosley will continue to negotiate the conditions of the contract with Scientific Games, under the commission’s direction. He said he hopes he can gain additional fiscal concessions from the company. “Frankly, I don’t know that they owe us anything,” Woosley said. “Hopefully, we can negotiate more.”

CONTINUED FROM 1A

rector Ernie Passailaigue in 2009 without oversight from the commission or the legislative committee that focuses on lottery matters. Hyde said Passailaigue’s change possibly invalidated the contract, and has cost the state more than $7 million. The auditor added that the amendment could cost Arkansas up to $21 million throughout the life of the contract, which is set to expire in 2016. Representatives from the vendor previously asked the commission to honor its commitment to the contract and offered the state a $2.2 million gesture of goodwill. Commissioners George Hammons and Bruce Engstrom opposed reaffirming the contract. Engstrom pointed to comments from Gov. Mike Beebe, who said his chief legal counsel, Tim Gauger, was personally investigating the lottery contract.

BROADCAST CONTINUED FROM 1A

about issues affecting the people of White County. Blackstone said she was glad that TV16 could be a part of the political process. “It’s a good community service,” she said. “As far as I know, we are the only local television station for the entire county. We want to serve our commu-

nity and broadcasting the debate was a great opportunity to do so. “I think it’s important to get people involved with the political process. When the media shows something like the debate is important, then the viewer will think it’s important as well. I think it’s important for everyone to get involved with elections.”

RESIGNING CONTINUED FROM 1A

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equipment because of a matching grant for which he can apply through the Department of Homeland Security. If the city receives the grant, the fire department would get 10 handheld radios, 15 pagers, one repeater and $7,500 to reprogram the old radio equipment to meet new standards, which are required to be done by the Federal Communication Commission by 2013. The city would only have to pay $5,000 for the equipment. Baldridge’s grant wasn’t the only grant discussed. The council approved resolutions allowing the mayor to apply for three different grants. Two of the grants would be from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, which would be used for the new terminal and another for site improvements. The terminal grant could not exceed $450,000 and the improvements grant could not exceed $150,000. The third grant is from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Taxiway E project and it will not exceed $200,000. The council approved the lowest bid for the airport terminal project. The bid came from James H. Cone Construction and

the bid was at $787,000. The council also approved the removal of a home in city at 507 W. Woodruff Street. The home has been found to have “unsightly and dangerous conditions that are harmful to the public’s health, safety, and welfare,” said Buck Gibson, city attorney. The code enforcement department has $5,000 in its budget for urban removal; therefore, removing the home will not cost the city any additional costs. All costs acquired during the removal process will be put on the lien on the home, which will inhibit the property owner from selling the property until the lien is paid to the city. The council gave Shock the go-ahead to proceed with auctioning off 18 old vehicles, two 40-yard trailers, nearly a dozen pieces of lawn maintenance equipment, assorted bicycles and a handful of other items from various city departments. He said there will be advertisements in The Daily Citizen with details about the auction, which will be held on May 2. The location and time of the auction is still unknown, Shock said, but he plans to finalize those details

soon. He said some of the items will be sold individually, while other items will be sold in lots. The council approved a number of other items which included: ■ A 5 percent increase from the Waste Corp of Arkansas, which is effective May 1. The city will now have to pay $32.65 a ton to take waste to the transfer station on Eastline Road. ■ A resolution authorizing the White River Planning and Development District to provide administrative services regarding the ball field lighting project. ■ A resolution authorizing the placement of a historical marker at Oak Grove Cemetery honoring Brig. Gen. Dandridge McRae, upon request of the White County Historical Society. ■ A resolution to accept drainage easement regarding Lot 65, Stage 3, James Addition. ■ Revised Ordinance 2012-14 to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements. ■ Approved a rezoning ordinance for Lot 9, Block 5, South Heights Addition from residential to planned development. ■ Approved a budgetadjusting ordinance. The budget adjustment or-

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dinance included a payment of $10,000 to Main Street Searcy, a payment of $18,585.94 to SCM for architectural services regarding the airport terminal; a payment of $20,000 to the Searcy Regional Economic Development Corporation and a payment of $34,978.56 to Stephenson Oil Co., for fuel. The ordinance also included a transfer of $6,342.10 from IT service agreement software expenditure account to the network equipment software expenditure account, as well as a appropriation of $3,675 from unappropriated reserves to new Code Enforcement expenditure account regarding the Sowell Street condemnation. The amount includes $3,000 for an appraisal fee and $675 for a limited title search fee. Gibson said during the agenda meeting that the appraisal fee amount is in the ballpark range for this type of appraisal.

assistant to Police Chief Kyle Osborne — fill accounts payable position temporarily, though the move could become permanent. The payroll clerk position will be filled by Kim Gordon, who was hired by the city in January to serve as a receptionist, but given she has previous payroll experience, Meads said she would be a good fit to fill the position. With Gordon moving to another area, the city now must find a new receptionist. Meads said the office will “borrow” staff from other departments to work as a receptionist in the morning. In the afternoon, Beverly Simpson will work the receptionist desk while also doing the receipting function for the clerk’s staff. Simpson has been with the clerk’s staff for almost three years and has previous experience as the receptionist and as the accounts receivable clerk. Meads said the two women leaving, Jordan and Rhodes, were not eligible to fill her position as city clerk/treasurer when she leaves in August because neither of them live within the city limits of Searcy. Meads’ office is an elected position; therefore, whoever serves in it must live within Searcy city limits. Following Meads’ discussion of the changes in her office on Tuesday night, Alderman Don Raney said he is con-

cerned that the two women left because they or any of the other city employees had not received bonuses in some time. “I don’t know if there is any connection between them leaving because of the lack of bonuses, but I think we need to look at the cash flow again and see when we can afford bonuses. I think we owe it to the employees,” Raney said. Alderman Dale Brewer echoed Raney’s sentiments, and said he always thought the two women should have earned a higher salary because of all of the work they do for the city. Each of the women earn $32,013.02. Meads said she did not know much about why the women are leaving or if it had to do with their salary. She said they are going to the same business to work. Morris said he was disappointed that the women were leaving because they both had done a “wonderful job” in the city. “But we couldn’t hold them back,” he said. Shock said he would reevaluate the city’s cash flow to see about a bonus. He said he would like the council to remember that while these two women are important and will be missed, they are only two of the 240 employees in the city. In other business of the council, Searcy Fire Chief Bill Baldridge announced that he will have an opportunity to save the city a lot of money on radio

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ARREST MADE IN HIGGINSON MAYOR ATTACK LAFFOON RESIGNS FROM RIVERVIEW The man accused of attacking Randall Homsley made bond Thursday after being arrested. — PAGE 3A

Raiders basketball coach Jon Laffoon will be the new principal of Pea Ridge High School. — PAGE 1B

Bypass project in question

Shooting near Searcy Victim: Coty R. Cook, 29 What happened: Cook was alleged involved with an altercation with a man outside of Searcy. As he drove off, the suspect fired at the rear of the vehicle, hitting Cook in the head.

Commissioner not 100 percent sure bypass will be completed as planned BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Deputies investigate shooting

The future of the 36/67 Connector Route is in question because of the state’s financial obligation to pay $12 million over the next four years because of a trucker tax exemption.

36/67 Connector Route Because of a trucker tax exemption, the Arkansas Highway Department budget will be tight, which has caused local officials to worry about the future of the 36/67 Connector Route. State Commissioner John Burkhalter said he cannot say with 100 percent certainty that the project will be completed.

Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter said he could not say with 100 percent certainty if the bypass project would still be completed. “The reason you can’t say that Please see BYPASS | 2A

Burkhalter

TAKING AN AFTERNOON CAT NAP

Local man suffers gunshot wound to head

White County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a recent shooting that took place near Searcy. Deputies on Thursday were called to the White County Medical Center regarding a man who suffered a gunshot Cook wound to the back of his head. Deputies were advised that the victim, Coty R. Cook, 29, was involved in an altercation with a man outside of Searcy. After Cook began to drive away, the suspect fired at the rear of the vehicle, hitting Cook in the back of the head. Cook was transported to the White County Medical Center via personal vehicle. He was later transported to University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, and was expected to be released Friday. Deputies did not release the suspect’s name, citing an ongoing investigation.

Forecasters say Saturday storms ‘life threatening’ BY SEAN MURPHY Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — In an unusually early and strong warning, national weather forecasters cautioned Friday that conditions are ripe for violent tornadoes to rip through the nation from Texas to Minnesota this weekend. As states across the middle of the country prepared for the worst, storms were already kicking off in Norman, Okla., where a twister whizzed by the nation’s tornado forecasting headquarters but caused little damage. It was only the second time in U.S. history that the Storm Prediction Center issued a high-risk warning more than 24 hours in advance, said Russ Schneider, director of the center, which is part Please see STORMS | 2A

Marisa Lytle/mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

Owen and Missile wake up from a nap at the Searcy Humane Society Animal Shelter on Friday. The shelter, located at 112 Johnston Road, is open every day from 1-5 p.m.

White County Judge debate video online Debate can be viewed at YouTube, Harding TV

Video of Monday’s White County Judge debate between incumbent Michael Lincoln and challenger Bill Haynie can be viewed at www.youtube. com/seadailycitizen. White County Cable subscribers can also view the debate on Harding TV16 at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. between now and April 30.

BY JACOB BROWER jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

Video of Monday night’s White County Judge debate between incumbent Michael Lincoln and challenger Bill Haynie can now be viewed on The Daily Citizen’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ seadailycitizen. Between now and April 30, the debate can also be viewed by White County Cable subscribers on Harding TV16 at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day. The video was produced by Harding TV

Lincoln

Haynie

staff and RushWorks.tv. The debate, moderated by White County Election Commission Chairman Winston Collier, featured Lincoln and Haynie answering a series of 10 questions about issues affecting the people of White

County. Topics include: Government transparency, the county’s budget surplus, roads and infrastructure, the failed county bypass tax, personnel issues, the oil and gas industry, conflicts of interest, veterans’ affairs and health of the candidates.

Bids open Tuesday for field house, classrooms BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

Bids will open Tuesday for a new field house and additional classrooms at Riverview High School. Superintendent Howard Morris told the school board at a recent meeting that the district is moving

Debate video

Riverview School Board honors FBLA students items from an old bus shop into a newly constructed bus shop, leaving the old shop area free to become the site of a new field house.

Riverview will begin accepting bids Tuesday at the administration building. The board on Thursday also

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

gave Morris permission to spend up to $9,000 to purchase Astroturf for the indoor practice facility. Morris said installation of the turf would probably cost around $1 per square foot. Please see RIVERVIEW | 3A

Our best thoughts come from others. RALPH WALDO EMERSON American transcendentalist, author

”

75¢

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

WEEK W E 3 (HOPEFULLY) KICKS OFF TONIGHT SEARCY’S Rx EXPRESS PHARMACY TO CLOSE IIff the t lightning stays away, all six White County football teams will see action tonight. — PAGE 1B fo oo

Searcy will lose a pharmacy as a result of Walgreens’ acquisition of Arkansas-based USA Drug. — PAGE 3A

Biviano, Osborne to debate sas House of Representatives have agreed to a debate to be held next month at Harding University.

BY JACOB BROWER Candidates vying to represent District 46 in the Arkan-

What: 1 percent tax on the gross receipts on prepared foods, 3 percent on the gross receipts from hotels and motels Next step: Searcy residents will vote on Nov. 6 Tax in place: July 1, 2013

Incumbent State Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, and challenger Kyle Osborne, D-Searcy, will debate 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8, at the American Heritage Auditorium. Dr. Jim Miller, assistant professor of communication at Harding, will moderate the 90-minute fo-

Forum to be held Oct. 8 at Harding University jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

Searcy A&P tax

Please see DEBATE | 3A

Biviano

Voters must approve A&P hike

Osborne

DIXIE SWING KINGS DRAW CROWD AT FAIR

City attorney: A&P tax rate cannot be raised by council BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

The proposed city of Searcy advertising and promotion (A&P) tax will be put before the vote of the people in November, and that’s the only way future increases of the tax rate can be approved. The proposal calls for Gibson 1 percent to be collected on gross receipts from prepared foods and 3 percent on hotel fees. The state A&P statute Please see A&P | 2A

Slain anchor’s mother’s suit defended

Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

Kendall Stovall, left, and Adrain Brown present the colors and say the Pledge of Allegiance before a performance by the Dixie Swing Kings at the White County F air T hu r s d ay m o r nin g. Brown served in the Army from 1952-1954 and served in Germany and Korea. At left, Carl Rogers, left, and his wife, Georgia, are all smiles as they dance to a song by the Dixie Sing Kings at the White County Fair Thursday morning.

BY ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

KVHU 95.3 and AM 1660 radio stations. “The main goal in revamping the site was to provide an outlet with which students could publish their work in a professional manner while providing students, faculty, alumni and community members with easy access to the most recent news

LITTLE ROCK — The mother of slain Little Rock TV anchor Anne Pressly should be allowed to proceed with a lawsuit against a hospital and three workers who illegally looked at her dead daughter’s medical files despite a judge’s ruling that privacy claims can’t be pursued after someone’s death, an attorney told the Arkansas Supreme Court Thursday. Justices on Thursday heard oral arguments in Patricia Cannady’s lawsuit against St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center over claims that her daughter’s privacy was violated when the medical files were accessed. Cannady is appealing a Pulaski County judge’s ruling that the law doesn’t allow privacy claims to proceed after the affected person’s death. Gerry Schulze, Cannady’s attorney, said justices should show the public that invasion of priva-

Please see WEBSITE | 3A

Please see LAWSUIT | 2A

Harding to launch updated media site today Website connects students, faculty, alumni

An updated version of the Harding University student media network The Link will be launched today. The website, thelink.harding. edu, is the department of mass

Updated site The Harding University department of mass communication will launch an updated version of The Link, the department’s online student media network. communication’s student media network.

WEATHER Today: Partly sunny. Rain likely. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Lows around 60. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Vol. 158, No. 221 ©2012 The Daily Citizen

“The site was created to inform students, engage them in dialogue, share their stories, and connect them with the Harding family across the world,” said Dr. Jim Miller, assistant professor of communication. The site displays work from student publications and productions including The Bison newspaper, Petit Jean yearbook, TV16 news program, and

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

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If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. ABRAHAM MASLOW 20th American psychologist

”

The Daily Citizen

Friday, September 14, 2012 • Page 3A

FROM PAGE ONE

Area Rx Express pharmacy 1 of 27 set to close Company spokesman: Searcy’s USA Drug to remain open BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

Singin’ and dancin’ at the county fair Jackie Stewart plays violin for the Dixie Swing Kings during a performance at the White County Fair Thursday morning. The group is composed of multiple bands and only gets to play about once a year. At right, Victoria Taylor sings the National Anthem before a per formance by the Dixie Swing Kings at the White County Fair Thursday morning.

High court considers second casino suit BY ANDREW DEMILLO Associated press

LITTLE ROCK — The state erred by rejecting a proposed ballot measure that if passed, would grant a woman exclusive rights to operate casinos in several Arkansas counties, and voters should decide the issue in November, her attorney told the state Supreme Court on Thursday. Peter Kumpe, an attorney for professional poker player Nancy Todd, told justices the state unfairly rejected her bid late in the process due to its concerns that her proposed amendment would implicitly prohibit race tracks from offering electronic gambling games such as video poker and blackjack. Todd's proposal would give her the right to operate casinos in four Arkan-

sas counties. Last week, the court heard arguments in a similar lawsuit by a Texas businessman seeking to get a competing bid on the ballot that would give him exclusive casino operating rights in seven counties. "The sponsors have experienced this process more like an obstacle course," Kumpe told the justices Thursday. The secretary of state's office ruled that Todd's proposed measure couldn't legally appear on the ballot because it didn't inform voters it would repeal a law allowing a Hot Springs horse track and a West Memphis dog track to operate electronic "games of skill." Former Congressman Asa Hutchinson, an attorney representing the secretary of state's office, said

Todd's revised amendment language that says it "may" repeal the games would confuse voters even more. "The plaintiffs have inserted a clause into the ballot title that so muddies the waters that voters cannot cast an informed vote," Hutchinson said. Kumpe told the justices that the state is engaging in pure speculation by saying the amendment would implicitly repeal the electronic gambling at other locations. He said state officials are operating on the assumption that wholesale casino gambling is being offered at the tracks. "The whole idea was to draw a line between games of chance and games of skill," Kumpe said. But an attorney for the chairman of the Stop

Casinos Now committee formed to campaign against the amendment said Todd's amendment is so broad that there's no other way to view its impact on the tracks. The committee is funded primarily by the company that owns Southland, the West Memphis track. "The casino gaming they're allowed to do is all games," Steve Lancaster said. "There is no distinction between games of skill and games of chance." The state and opponents have also argued that the petitions Todd submitted for the proposal shouldn't be accepted since she revised the language after submitting signatures in response to concerns raised by the secretary of state and attorney general's office.

As Walgreen Co. continues to work through its acquisition of Arkansasbased USA Drug, Searcy will lose one of its drug stores, but it’s not the store many people would expect to close in the transaction. Of the 27 stores in Arkansas to close, Rx Express Pharmacy on Race Avenue is on the list. The store is located in front of Fred’s, and sits at the corner of Race and Marion streets. Walgreen Co. corporate spokesperson Jim Graham explained that the store is an affiliate of the USA drug chain. “USA Drug is a chain owned by LaFrance holdings, which is the company we’re acquiring,” he said. “They operate under many different brand names, one of which is Rx Express.” The company expects to close the store by November, Graham said. Rx Express has been in Searcy since 2002 and employs six people. Customer Ellen Self of Searcy just moved from Mississippi and was picking up her first prescription from the pharmacy on Thursday afternoon. “I can’t believe it’s closing,” Self said. “I think it’s terrible.” Graham said customers who are concerned about their prescriptions will be able to have it filled at one of two locations in Searcy. “When a store is closed, all its prescription drug customers will be notified of the location of a nearby Walgreens or

Stores closing: 27 Number in White County: 1 Closing time: By November USA Drug-affiliated store where their prescription information will be transferred,” he said. “No other action is needed by pharmacy customers to have their existing prescriptions filled at any Walgreens store.” Longtime customer Jim Crawford of Judsonia said he is unhappy about the news. “I hate for it to close,” Crawford said. “You can usually get right in and get your medicine.” The USA Drug Store at the corner of Race and Moss streets will remain open, despite 27 other USA drugs around the state closing. Graham said that the store will stay open to continue to meet the need in the area. “We did an analysis of the markets to assess the size of the markets and to see the demand for services in the area,” Graham said. “We looked at the proximity of other USA Drug and affiliate stores and based our decision of the analysis of that market.” Based on proximity alone, one would think that USA Drug’s proximity of one mile away from Walgreens would put it on the list to be closed. Graham said that it not the case. “It’s not unusual to have more than one drug store within a two mile radius of another,” he said.

DEBATE CONTINUED FROM 1A

rum, which is sponsored by The Daily Citizen. Biviano and Osborne said they are excited about the debate. “I look forward to discussing the issues that are critical to the state of Arkansas,” Biviano said. “I welcome the opportunity to explain my positions for plans on how we’re going to address the economic, educational and social issues here in the state.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Osborne said. “I’m hoping people will see what I actually stand for on the issues that are important to the voters of this district.” The auditorium is located on the first floor of the American Heritage Building, 915 E. Market in Searcy. Biviano and Osborne will face off on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. District 46 encompasses the cities of Searcy and Kensett. DOLBY DIGITAL 3D

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CONTINUED FROM 1A

and activities on campus,” said Michelle Pugh, editor in chief of the Petit Jean

and graduate assistant of the mass communication department. The site also provides links to each category’s

Vimeo, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter accounts. Users can read issues of The Bison, watch streaming footage from TV16, listen

to KVHU radio and view issues of the Petit Jean and alumni blog posts. Students can also submit story ideas for publication.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

The

Daily Citizen

TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

OUR VIEW: AAA PUNTING ON LOCAL GAMES LOCAL GRIDIRON RIVALRY BEGINS FRIDAY The Arkansas Activities Association’s lack of leadership on weather-shortened games is an embarrassment. — PAGE 4A

Riverview and Bald Knob will meet on the football field for the first time ever Friday night. — PAGE 1B

Council corrects A&P flaw

State Rep Debate When: 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8

Attorney: Tax ordinance itself will not change

Where: American Heritage Auditorium at Harding University

Debate terms settled

BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

The Searcy City Council earlier this week corrected an er-

ror to the Searcy advertising and promotion (A&P) tax ordinance that will appear on the general election ballot. In August, the council passed

an A&P tax resolution that included a title for the issue that would be used on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. But somehow between the time the resolution was passed and when it was taken to the county clerk’s office, an original rough draft of the resolution was signed by Mayor David Morris and taken to the clerk’s office — not the final version

approved by the council. This copy contained a different version of the ballot title than what was included in the resolution approved by the council. City Attorney Buck Gibson explained that the during the course of drafting the resolution that was approved by the council, a number of versions Please see A&P | 2A

SEARCIANS ENJOY COOL WEATHER

Biviano, Osborne to debate Oct. 8 at Harding The Daily Citizen

House District 46 candidates Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, and Kyle Osborne, D-Searcy, agreed to terms of a debate to be held next month. The debate will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, at the American Heritage Biviano Auditorium at Harding University. The debate is sponsored by The Daily Citizen and will be moderated by Jim Miller, Harding assistant profes- Osborne sor of communication. Both candidates will be given five minutes each for opening

Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Triston Grimes, 3, of Searcy heads down the slide at Berr yhill Park on Wednesday afternoon. Grimes was visiting the park with his mom, Ginger Grimes. At left, Caley Perry of Searcy throws a football with her brother Cory (not pictured) at Berryhill Park Wednesday afternoon. The park was filled with people enjoying the seasonal weather. Autumn officially begins Saturday.

Please see DEBATE | 3A

Quorum Court Three county departments were approved to hire parttime employees to help with temporary increased work. The road department, the tax collector’s office, and the county clerk’s office were all approved pay their part-time employees.

Court approves Kensett Police Department to upgrade lights part-time City of Kensett work City to sell 2 old police vehicles, 1 water department vehicle

3 county offices approved to pay part-time employees

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

As October approaches, one county department will be wrapping up work with its part-time employees, while two other departments will continue to use Please see COURT | 2A

KENSETT — Police vehicle lights in Kensett will soon be shining brighter. Because of a $4,200 Jag grant — a mini grant from the Department of Finance and Administration — Kensett’s police cars will be getting new light bars and spotlights. The cost of the upgrades is about $4,300, with the extra

Kensett police will make upgrades to police vehicle light bars and new spotlights, thanks to a Jag Grant. The city will also be taking bids for two old police cars and one water department vehicle.

money for lights coming from the activity fund. “Our lights bars now are 2006 models, and they were used when we bought them, so they’re pretty old,” said Jim

Dwyer, Kensett police chief. Kensett police will also be taking bids for two old police cars not in use anymore. “We have two police cars that are in bad shape,” Dwyer said. “We want to take some bids and get rid of them.” The city will also take bids on a 1990s model Ford Ranger used by the water department. Water Superintendent Steve Brown said the Ranger has broken down and isn’t worth much money, but said the city got good use from a car they spent little on. “We only payed $1,800 for it,

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

so we got our worth out of it,” he said. Other business Tuesday, the council took the following action: ■ Agreed to use the city dump truck to haul gravel to be put down in between Northeast Second and Northeast Third streets. The council agreed to allow Buddy Sullivan to spread the gravel as long as the cost is reasonable ■ Agreed to replace four to five pipes and filler caps on the city park’s fence, which was damPlease see KENSETT | 3A

To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. WINSTON CHURCHILL

”

20th Century British conservative politician and Prime Minister

The Daily Citizen

Thursday, September 20, 2012 • Page 3A

FROM PAGE ONE

Justice Department faulted in gun-trafficking case BY PETE YOST Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s internal watchdog on Wednesday faulted the agency for misguided strategies, errors in judgment and management failures during a bungled gun-trafficking probe in Arizona that disregarded public safety and resulted in hundreds of weapons turning up at crime scenes in the U.S. and Mexico. A former head of the department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and a deputy assistant attorney general in Justice’s criminal division in Washington left the department upon the report’s release — the first by retirement, the second by resignation. In the 471-page report, Inspector General Michael Horowitz referred more

than a dozen people for possible department disciplinary action for their roles in Operation Fast and Furious and a separate, earlier probe known as Wide Receiver, undertaken during the George W. Bush administration. A former acting deputy attorney general and the head of the criminal division were criticized for actions and omissions related to operations subsequent to and preceding Fast and Furious. The report did not criticize Attorney General Eric Holder, but said lower-level officials should have briefed him about the investigation much earlier. The report found no evidence that Holder was informed about the Fast and Furious operation before Jan. 31, 2011, or that the attorney general was told about the much-disputed gun-walking tactic em-

ployed by the ATF. Gun-walking was an experimental tactic, barred under long-standing department policy. ATF agents in Arizona allowed suspected “straw purchasers,” in these cases believed to be working for Mexican drug gangs, to leave Phoenix-area gun stores with weapons in order to track them and bring charges against gun-smuggling kingpins who long had eluded prosecution, but they lost track of most of the guns. The experimental operations were a response to widespread criticisms of the agency’s anti-smuggling efforts. Because of thin ATF staffing and weak penalties, the traditional strategy of arresting suspected straw buyers as soon as possible had failed to stop the flow of tens of thousands of guns to Mexico — more than 68,000 in the past five years.

ASSOCIATED PRESS/Eric Gay, File

Acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson speaks during a news conference on Aug. 13, 2009, in San Antonio. The Justice Department’s internal watchdog on Wednesday faulted the agency for misguided strategies, errors in judgment and management failures during a bungled gun-trafficking probe in Arizona that resulted in hundreds of weapons turning up at crime scenes in the U.S. and Mexico.

Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

From left: State Rep. Mark Biviano, RSearcy (left), and challenger Kyle Osborne, D-Searcy (second from right), discuss debate terms with The Daily Citizen’s Editor Jacob Brower (second from left) and moderator Jim Miller (right) Wednesday morning at Harding University. The debate will be held Monday, Oct. 8, at the university. At left, Biviano and Osborne visit following the meeting.

DEBATE CONTINUED FROM 1A

statements and five minutes each for closing statements. There will be a total of 10 questions and each candidate will be asked five questions. Candidates will be allowed two-minute responses, the opposing candidate will be allowed two-minute rebuttals and the original candidate will be allowed 30-second rebuttals. The order of statements and questions was determined by a coin toss Wednesday morning. Biviano, the incumbent, will make the final opening statement, the first closing statement and will be asked evennumbered questions. Osborne, the challenger, will make the first opening statement, the final closing statement and will be asked odd-numbered questions. Questions will be written by Miller based on news reports, the candidates’ platforms and input from readers of The Daily Citizen. Readers may submit questions for consideration by emailing them to Editor Jacob Brower at jbrower@thedailycitizen.com. Biviano and Osborne will face off on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. District 46 encompasses the cities of Searcy and Kensett.

KENSETT CONTINUED FROM 1A

aged by a tree knocked over by strong winds ■ The fire department is building a new rescue truck using money from the fire department fund and county fund, not using

Need Extra Storage in Your Purse? any city money. ■ McDonald informed the council the city has placed an advertisement in The Daily Citizen calling for bids to clean the asbestos-contaminated buildings. The final day to submit a bid is Sept. 27. DOLBY DIGITAL 3D

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The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

BADGERS LOOKING TO TURN CORNER

PANGBURN RESIDENTS UNDER BOIL ORDER

Beebe is scrambling after dropping its sixth straight game, and is now in do-or-die mode. — PAGE 1B

Pangburn has issued a boil order for everything on Second Street south of Main Street, due to a main valve repair.

BIVIANO, OSBORNE SPAR ON ISSUES

Woman rescued Who: Othella Fleming, 61, of Searcy What: Was removed from her residence after food left cooking filled the residence with smoke When: Saturday, around 8:41 p.m.

Woman rescued from apartment Food left cooking filled residence with smoke BY WENDY JONES editor@thedailycitizen.com

A Searcy woman was rescued from her apartment Saturday. According to Brittany Eacret, public information officer for the Searcy Police Department, Othella Fleming, 61, of Searcy apparently fell asleep on her couch in her South Elm Terrace Apartment while food was cooking. A neighbor called in to report alarms going off and the smell of cooking food. Around 8:41 p.m., officer Michael Mosher responded to the welfare alert. Upon arrival he said he could see smoke coming from the top of the apartment. Fleming’s neighbor had opened the door Please see RESCUED | 3A

Family seeks answers in police shooting BY JEANNIE NUSS Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — The family of an Arkansas man who was shot and killed by an off-duty Little Rock police officer in 2010 asked the Justice Department on Monday to investigate his death. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, lawyers for Eugene Ellison’s family also alleged a cover-up after his death by the same department that has employed his two sons. Ellison’s younger son, Sgt. Troy Ellison, joined the Little Rock police department in 1995. Ellison’s older son, Spencer Ellison, is a former Little Rock police officer who now teaches criminal justice at the University of North Texas at Dallas. Their attorneys’ letter to Holder comes nearly two years after Donna Lesher, shot Eugene Ellison, 67, twice at an apartment complex where she and another off-duty officer, Tabitha McCrillis, were working as security guards.

Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

Incumbent Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, right, listens as Kyle Osborne, D-Searcy, states his case on an issue at the State House of Representatives District 46 debate, sponsored by The Daily Citizen and hosted by Harding University Monday night. Osborne and Biviano will square off in the general election Nov. 6.

Candidates debate party platforms, tax pledge BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

The Democratic candidate for the District 46 state representative seat said he does not support his party’s major social platforms, as well as the initiative to allow certain patients to use marijuana. Searcy Police Chief Kyle Osborne, D-Searcy, said he does not support abortion or samesex marriage, or a petitioned initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot for medical marijuana. “I’m opposed to abortion, same sex marriage and legalizing marijuana,” he said on Monday night during a debate between him and his opponent State Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy. “I will vote no (on medical marijuana on the Nov. 6 ballot),” Osborne said. “As a police officer, medical marijuana is an illegal drug. It’s illegal.” The debate was sponsored by The Daily Citizen at the American Heritage Auditorium at Harding University.

Biviano said he thinks that Osborne will not be able to stand by those ideals if he is elected and is a voting mem-

go to Little Rock and fall in line with their political party,”

ber of the state legislature. “I find it interesting that politicians make these statements in campaigns and then

Please see DEBATE | 2A

Bradford school board run-off election today Only residents in Bradford School District will vote The Daily Citizen

Residents in the Bradford School District will get to vote today to decide the last member of their school district board of directors. Candidate Russ Durham and Joshua Nelson are the last of an original three candidates vying for a seat on the board. Voters can cast their ballot

WEATHER Today: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Lows in the upper 40s. Southwest winds 5 mph. Vol. 158, No. 242 ©2012 The Daily Citizen

Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

State House of Representative challenger Kyle Osborne, D-Searcy, left, listens to State Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, during a debate at Harding University Monday night.

at Bradford City Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Election Day on Sept. 18, neither Durham, Nelson, or the

third candidate Amanda Cowell received a majority of the vote. Durham received 58 votes (49.57 percent), Nelson received 32 votes (27.35 percent) and Cowell received 27 votes (23.08 percent.) Durham was only two votes shy of winning the race without a runoff. The seat is being vacated by longtime board member

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

Election For: Bradford School Board Voting location: Bradford City Hall Candidates: Russ Durham and Joshua Nelson Leland Wells, who chose not to seek re-election.

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. ELBERT HUBBARD American writer

”

Page 2A • Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Daily Citizen

FROM PAGE ONE News in brief Funeral services set for KTHV’s Turner ARKADELPHIA (AP) — Funeral services are set for Little Rock television station KTHV anchor Matt Turner, who was killed in a Saturday traffic crash. A visitation is set for Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 3rd Street Baptist Church in Turner’s hometown of Arkadelphia. KTHV reports that a funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, also at the church. Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia is handling the arrangements. Turner died in a singlevehicle accident in which his SUV went off westbound I-30 in Benton and struck a concrete base for a highway sign. Turner went on the air for KTHV in September after he left Fayetteville television station KNWA, where he worked for eight years.

Obama: ‘Today we celebrate Chavez’ KEENE, Calif. (AP) — President Barack Obama on Monday designated the home of Latino labor leader Cesar Chavez as a national monument,

calling Chavez a hero who brought hope to millions of poor, disenfranchised farm workers who otherwise might have remained “invisible” to much of the nation. “Today, we celebrate Cesar Chavez,” Obama said at a ceremony at La Paz, the California farmhouse where Chavez lived and worked for more than two decades. “Our world is a better place because Cesar Chavez decided to change it.” Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, is buried on the site where the monument was dedicated. His widow, Helen, still lives there. The 187-acre site, known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), or simply La Paz, was the union’s planning and coordination center starting in 1971. Chavez and many organizers lived, trained and strategized there. Obama’s action designates 105 acres at the site near Bakersfield, Calif., as a national monument, the fourth monument he has designated under the Antiquities Act.

No money for hopefuls under fire BY ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Republicans said Monday they will no longer financially help three state House candidates whose racially charged writings have come under fire, including one lawmaker who called slavery a “blessing in disguise” and another who labeled Abraham Lincoln a “war criminal.” State Republican Party Chairman Doyle Webb said the party would not further contribute to the campaigns of House candidate Charlie Fuqua, state Rep. Jon Hubbard or Rep. Loy Mauch. However, the party stopped short of asking the three to withdraw their candidacies as the GOP faced a potential headache in its claim to win control of the Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. The move was the latest by GOP leaders to distance the party from the trio after renewed attention to their writing. Hubbard called slavery a “blessing in disguise” in a 2009 book and wrote that African-Americans were better off than they

“There’s just no plan to make any further financial contributions.” Doyle Webb State Republican Party Chairman would have been had they not been captured and shipped to the United States. Fuqua advocated the deportation of all Muslims in a 2011 self-published book, and Mauch has criticized Lincoln in a series of letters to a newspaper dating back several years. Webb said the decision to no longer contribute to Hubbard and Fuqua’s campaigns was influenced in part by their comments, which the party has called offensive. He would not say the reason for cutting off Mauch. The three candidates did not return calls or emails Monday. “There’s just no plan to make any further financial contributions,” Webb told The Associated Press. A party spokeswoman later said the plan would include any in-kind contributions. The three each received $2,500 worth of services from Impact Management Group as a contribution from the party in May.

U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, a Republican who represents central Arkansas, on Monday called on Mauch to give contributions Griffin made to his campaign to charity over letters he’s written to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Griffin has made a similar demand to Hubbard and Fuqua over the weekend. Mauch called Abraham Lincoln a “war criminal” in a 2007 letter and wrote “Jesus Christ did condone slavery” in a 2009 letter. “I read a sample of Rep. Mauch’s statements, and they range from outrageous to historically inaccurate and anachronistic to downright odd,” Griffin said in a statement released by a spokesman. “As we all know, both parties have folks that say ridiculous things, but I would not have financially supported Mauch had I known about these statements.” Webb would not call Mauch’s statements offensive and said they were

“made from a historical perspective.” “While I hold a contrasting view of those events, I recognize Rep. Mauch’s right to a different perspective of history,” he said. Fuqua, who served in the Arkansas House from 1996 to 1998, wrote there is “no solution to the Muslim problem short of expelling all followers of the religion from the United States,” in his 2011 book, titled “God’s Law.” Fuqua is challenging two-term Democratic Rep. James McLean of Batesville. A top House Republican announced Monday morning that he would back McLean in his reelection bid over Fuqua, but declined to say whether his decision was influenced by the former lawmaker’s book. “James has been somebody I’ve worked with for four years and has earned my respect,” said Rep. Davy Carter, R-,Cabot, chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. “I’d like to see him re-elected.” Fuqua said over the weekend that he believed his views were “fairly wellaccepted by most people.”

Syria clash with Turkey may escalate BY LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — The continued exchange of artillery fire between Syria and Turkey raises additional concerns that the conflict may escalate and spread to neighboring countries, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Saturday. Panetta said the U.S. is using its diplomatic channels to relay worries about the fighting in the hopes that it will not broaden. His comments came on the heels of warnings from Turkey’s prime minister that his country is not far from war with Syria. Turkish and Syria traded artillery fire Saturday as rebels clashed with President Bashar Assad’s forces near the border, heightening the fears that the crisis could erupt into a regional conflict. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday cautioned Damascus not to test Turkey’s “limits and determination” and said Ankara was not bluffing in saying it won’t tolerate such acts. In other comments dur-

AP Photo/Martin Mejia

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (right) walks with Peru’s Defense Minister Pedro Cateriano past an honor guard at army headquarters in Lima, Peru, Saturday. Panetta was in Lima on an official visit for one day. ing a press conference with Peru’s Defense Minister, Pedro Cateriano, Panetta warned that the international community is ready to impose more sanctions against Iran if the country does not begin to address concerns about its nuclear program. The economic sanctions are having a damaging effect on Iran, as inflation

and unemployment rise, and the value of the currency drops, increasing prices. Iran, said Panetta, has to engage seriously with the international community to resolve issues with its nuclear program and if it doesn’t, “make no mistake, the international community will continue to impose additional sanctions.”

Panetta’s comments came after meetings Saturday with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, and the country’s defense ministry — dubbed the Pentagonito — to continue meetings with Cateriano. After his meeting with Humala, Panetta said the U.S. is increasing efforts to build partnerships in the region.

Biviano’s signature on the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform. He was specifically asked about his support of the 1-percent bypass tax in the city of Searcy, but then he signed the tax pledge a few months later, where he vowed to not support a net tax increase. “Those were different times and different economic conditions,” he said. “Our tax climate is one of the highest in Arkansas. We just can’t keep putting the burden on the people.” Osborne said Biviano only signed the pledge to support a “special interest group in Washington, D.C.” rather than being

concerned with the people of the district. Biviano disagreed, adding that he went against his party in 2011 and supported two tax initiatives, the diesel tax and the Main Street Fairness Act, which enacted a law to require Internet retailers to collect a sales tax if they do business with in-state affiliate websites. Biviano and Osborne will face off on the Nov.

6 general election ballot. District 46 encompasses the cities of Searcy and Kensett.

DEBATE CONTINUED FROM 1A

Biviano said. “My opponent likes to speak for me in reference to same sex marriage, legalizing drugs and abortions,” Osborne said. “He refers to going to Little Rock and falling in line with your party. I agree. I watched him do it. He did exactly what the Republican party told him to do.” Biviano pointed out in the Arkansas Family Council survey filled out by Osborne that when asked about the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, Osborne wrote, “Undecided.” Osborne did not to reply. Another issue the candidates were asked about on Monday was

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

ART, NOT FOOTBALL, AN ESCAPE FOR BISON SHS DRAMA ‘ALADDIN’ OPENS FRIDAY NIGHT AART H Harding Har cornerback Tramaine Wilkes uses his art ass an a escape from the pressures of life. — PAGE 1B

Local residents can get ready for a magic carpet ride with the upcoming presentation of ‘Aladdin.’ — PAGE 2A

City short on terminal funds Discussion on how to handle cash flow issue to continue in November BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

The city of Searcy is running short on money needed to complete the first half of the airport terminal, which must be done before the city

City council The city of Searcy is expected to face a cash flow issue on the city’s airport terminal project. As of earlier this week, the city had less than $13,000 to use toward the project. The city must use $300,000 toward the project before it is reimbursed from the grants it has received.

is reimbursed with the grant money it has previously received. “If we have one more bill for construction, it’s going to take away our Please see FUNDS | 2A Morris

MCRAE ELEMENTARY HOSTS COMMUNITY HELPERS

Debate video online, on TV Biviano, Osborne debate video produced by Harding TV 16 BY JACOB BROWER jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

Voters who did not watch Monday night’s debate between State Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, and Searcy Police Chief Kyle Osborne, DSearcy, still have a chance to do so before casting their ballots. The Arkan- Blackstone sas House District 46 debate can be viewed online and on Harding TV 16. The video was produced by TV 16 as a community service projPlease see DEBATE | 3A

Molly M. Fleming/mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

Kindergartners Eli Tackett (left) and Jaden Dyson explore a militar y helicopter Wednesday morning when a number of law enforcement and military officers visited students as part of Community Helpers Week. The helicopter landed in the grassy field adjacent to the school. At left, kindergartner Carter Pike quickly crawls into the back of a White County Sheriff’s Office vehicle at McRae Elementary Wednesday morning.

Police grant Who: The Pangburn Police Department What: Received a JAG grant How much: $4,200 For what: The money will be used to purchase video cameras

Pangburn police receive grant Money will be used to purchase video cameras BY M. A. WEBB Special to The Daily Citizen

Task force seizes drugs during traffic stop Searcy man charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana

A traffic stop made after Searcy officer Michael Bullock recognized a driver who had a warrant led to the seizure of suspected meth and marijuana. The officer conducted the stop Tuesday on West Park Avenue of Tony Hall, 23, of Searcy and found 14 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the

form of Ice and eight grams of suspected marijuana. Upon making the stop, the officer detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle and observed a plastic bag between the driver’s seat Please see ARREST | 3A

WEATHER Today: Partly sunny. Rain likely. Highs in the mid 70s. Southeast winds 5 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds 5 mph. Vol. 158, No. 244 ©2012 The Daily Citizen

Drug arrest

Hall

Who: Tony Hall, 23, of Searcy What: Was arrested during a traffic stop Tuesday for two counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

PANGBURN — The Pangburn Police Department will use a combination of grant funds and donated money to make uniform and equipment upgrades. The department received a $2,000 donation from XTO Energy and a $1,000 donation from Southwest in addition to a $4,200 JAG grant. “We are going to use the grant money to purchase two cameras and two chemical protection suits,” said Erik Reep, police chief. Department officials will Please see GRANT | 2A

“

There are always flowers for those who want to see them. HENRI MATISSE 20th Century French artist

”

The Daily Citizen

Thursday, October 11, 2012 • Page 3A

FROM PAGE ONE

Agencies seek payments for search costs Aldermen decline offer of building Associated Press

MITCHELL, S.D. — Some law enforcement agencies involved in the search for a prisoner who walked away from a transport van in southeastern South Dakota are billing the transport company for their costs, while others say they were just doing their job. Officers from the Sioux Falls Police Department, four counties, the state Division of Criminal Investigation, the state Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service were involved in the search this summer for Oscar Antonio HerreraMenjivar, who is still at large. Authorities said

he escaped July 14 when the van's driver stopped at a convenience store in Spencer and the secondary guard fell asleep. Herrera-Menjivar, 31, was being transported from Florida to Nebraska to face an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl he met on Facebook. Law officers searched for him for more than a week, and now believe he has fled the region, The Daily Republic reported McCook County Emergency Manager Brad Stiefvater said the county sent a bill for its searchrelated costs to Arkansasbased Inmate Services Corp. Turner County

Sheriff Byron Nogelmeier said he plans to submit a bill. "They're a private company doing this kind of job for hire," Nogelmeier said. "I suppose they have some kind of insurance. They lost part of their load and it's costing some money to put him away or find him. Why should the taxpayers of Turner County have to pay for their negligence, if there was negligence?" Inmate Services Corp. based in West Memphis, Ark., states on its website that it is "fully insured." Company President Randy Cagle Jr. told the newspaper he doesn't know if his firm will pay

any claims related to the search for Herrera-Menjivar. The Sioux Falls Police Department and the Hutchinson County Sheriff's Office said they will not bill the inmate transfer firm. "I've never heard of that before, charging somebody for doing our job," Hutchinson County Sheriff Jim Zeeb said. The state Highway Patrol and crime bureau are working together to submit a bill. The U.S. Marshal's Service is not. The total of all bills that have been submitted or will be submitted is about $50,000, the newspaper reported.

Womack lone major party candidate for seat BY JEANNIE NUSS Associated Press

ROGERS — U.S. Rep. Steve Womack was expected to win re-election to a congressional seat in heavily Republican northwestern Arkansas even before a Democratic challenger dropped out of the race this summer amid questions about his military record. Womack, the GOP candidate and a former Rogers mayor, still faces Green Party candidate Rebekah Kennedy and Libertarian Party candidate David Pangrac in the Nov. 6 election for

Arkansas' 3rd District seat. However, the race has largely fizzled out since Democrat Ken Aden abandoned his bid for the congressional seat in July. "I haven't seen any real visible signs of a campaign," said Womack, 55. That marks a change from the 2010 election when Womack beat out David Whitaker, a former assistant city attorney in Fayetteville, to win the seat that opened up when then-U.S. Rep. John Boozman launched a successful U.S. Senate bid. Boozman defeated Democratic Sen. Blanche

Lincoln. Aden left the race this summer after the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that military records and statements from officials contradicted Aden's claim that he was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier. Womack, a retired colonel with decades of service with the Army National Guard, initially called on Aden to apologize to the Special Forces community, but has since written the incident off as water under the bridge. "He was a decorated combat veteran and I ad-

mire him for his service to his country," Womack said. "There was no need to do anything to embellish that kind of a record. It stood on its own merits." Aden, who now works as a security guard at the nuclear power plant in Russellville, told The Associated Press he should have just said he served in the military rather than wading into specifics. He said Womack will probably hold onto the 3rd District seat in next month's election. Republicans have held a congressional seat from the area since the 1960s.

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

JUDSONIA — The former Masonic Lodge building in Judsonia is dilapidated, and the city has turned down an offer to buy it. Adam Whitlow, owner of the building, asked Mayor Rickey Veach for the city to buy the building for $6,000. Veach said he had considered making a counter-offer at $4,000, and Alderman Ronnie Schlem suggested taking the offer as low as $3,000. Alderwoman Kitty Conley expressed concern that the city already has one dilapidated building that needs to be torn down, suggesting the city not take on another one. Officials went on to decline the offer entirely, saying the only reason to buy the building would be to tear it down, which

Former Masonic Lodge Judsonia officials turned down a $6,000 offer to buy the former Masonic Lodge building Tuesday, saying the only reason for buying it would be to tear it down, an expense officials did not want to take. would be a projected cost of $4,000 they did not want to spend. Other business officials heard Tuesday included: ■ Judsonia renewed its yearly membership to the Municipal League at a cost of $5,026.93. Officials renewed the membership because the city has insurance through the Municipal League. ■ Judsonia payed its building insurance at a cost of $8,007.25.

Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

Searcy Police Chief Kyle Osborne, D-Searcy (left), takes notes as State Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, answers a question during the Arkansas House District 46 debate Monday night at Harding University. The debate can now be viewed online and on Harding TV 16.

DEBATE CONTINUED FROM 1A

ect, according to Director Ginger Blackstone. “We really want to be a service to the community,” she said. “We are a university station, but

we also want to better inform and program for the community outside of the Harding campus. “It’s also a good educational tool for students to get them interested in local politics. It’s not all just

about Washington.” People can watch the debate online by clicking the link on the top right of TheDailyCitizen.com home page. The debate will air on Harding TV 16 Monday through Friday

at 11 a.m., 6:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., through Election Day, Nov. 6. The debate was sponsored by The Daily Citizen and moderated by Jim Miller, assistant professor of communication at HU.

Drug Task Force assisted with a further search of the vehicle. An additional nine bags of suspected marijuana were found for a total of approximately eight ounces valued at $800. The suspected meth is valued at $1,400. Hall was also found

to be in possession of $1,610 in cash, which was seized. Hall was arrested for two counts of possession

of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver. He is being held at the White County Detention Center on $26,000 bond.

ARREST CONTINUED FROM 1A

and console of the vehicle. The officer retrieved the bag, which contained four smaller bags of suspected meth, about 14 grams, and also found two bags of suspected marijuana. The Central Arkansas

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